My favorite English teacher was laid off. I learned a lot from her. I've always had a problem with using the same words in my writing and she taught me how to expand my writing and be more descriptive. It doesn’t matter that she had been teaching for only a few years, she was the best!

Painting a tentPainting three famous works of art on a camping tent challenged 16-year-old Lily in ways she never imagined. WITH A PHOTO GALLERY.

The great debaterDebate has helped 16-year-old Janie become more informed about world and national issues and given her more confidence.

From the archives: My fight for respectIn this story from January 2001, Richard, 16, faced severe discrimination as an Asian-American. L.A. Youth frequently writes about racial and ethnic identity so we're sharing this story because it's one of our favorites.

I miss you Father RyanSince the priest at his church died, Kevin, 14, has missed him very much and felt guilty about not saying goodbye.

My summer is no vacationBy missing out on sleeping in and spending time with her friends, going to year-round school has been a real drag to Lia, 17.

Unhealthy competitionElliot, 16, had to learn that winning isn't the most important thing when entering competitions.

Summer fun for under $10What do the beach, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, window shopping and a bus pass have in common? They're cheap ways to spend your summer, which is especially important during a recession.